Perfect! I might pick up some cans when I have a day off this week. I have to drop my bumpers anyway to re-paint those so it'll be a good time to do the rockers. Anyone got any tips for doing those? Or for taking old dip off?

Wasn't sure where to put this, so I'll toss it up here. I scored a free swing arm off a rodeo at school today. The mounting brackets are no where near what they need to be for the truck, so the plan is to cut those brackets off and make new ones. I'm thinking 1/8" steel L brackets with some type of barrel hinge on it. The bracket would bolt in above the latching mechanism for the tailgate and another above the mount for the bottom of the tailgate. The bracket will come out and over the taillight and below it. The will extend out far enough to give clearance to the tailgate. Thoughts? I need it to be able to hold the weight of the swing arm itself, a full size spare and a trasharoo with a load of firewood in it. Open to opinions and advice. Thanks.

Did I miss anything cool, seems like I havent been on this thread for a while, PK got any new crazy plan? :P

lol hi, nothing to wild yet, been so busy I kinda forget that I drive a ranger some days. You can only do so much with a topper. And can only do so much in a 6'x5' bed.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by LiveLifeChill

Wasn't sure where to put this, so I'll toss it up here. I scored a free swing arm off a rodeo at school today. The mounting brackets are no where near what they need to be for the truck, so the plan is to cut those brackets off and make new ones. I'm thinking 1/8" steel L brackets with some type of barrel hinge on it. The bracket would bolt in above the latching mechanism for the tailgate and another above the mount for the bottom of the tailgate. The bracket will come out and over the taillight and below it. The will extend out far enough to give clearance to the tailgate. Thoughts? I need it to be able to hold the weight of the swing arm itself, a full size spare and a trasharoo with a load of firewood in it. Open to opinions and advice. Thanks.

but instead of mounting on the outside corner he wants his brackets to attach to the inside wall where the tailgate hinge and latch are located.

I want to get a tire carrier like that for mine as well, never thought of mounting it there. Only think I can say is that the bed might warp since its just sheet metal, but I guess the area around the tailgate is a little stronger. I'm curious to see how this pans out...

Idk man, that seems like a cool idea but I'm in and out of my cap too much to want another thing I have to unlock and move. The T locks are annoying enough to me.

If I was going to do something like this I'd probably adapt a hitch mounted bike rack that has one of those brackets at the bottom that lets it drop the same direction as your tailgate. Plus that way it wouldn't Have to be on 24/7.

but instead of mounting on the outside corner he wants his brackets to attach to the inside wall where the tailgate hinge and latch are located.

I want to get a tire carrier like that for mine as well, never thought of mounting it there. Only think I can say is that the bed might warp since its just sheet metal, but I guess the area around the tailgate is a little stronger. I'm curious to see how this pans out...

That's exactly where I was going with that. Haha and I figure the area inside the tailgate is strong enough to support all the weight you can put on it so why wouldn't that same area support a tire swing arm. I may just use the existing bolts from the tailgate mounts. I think I'm just gonna buy some strap hinges and modify those.

It's looking like I'm going to go through with it. Does anyone have any suggestions for the bracket and should I just let it be metal on metal or is there a spacer I should put in between the tire carrier and the barrel part of the hinge?

It's looking like I'm going to go through with it. Does anyone have any suggestions for the bracket and should I just let it be metal on metal or is there a spacer I should put in between the tire carrier and the barrel part of the hinge?

Something rubber so it didn't rub then rust. get an old bike tube and cut a circle in it.